In a first, Egypt conducts military drills with China, signaling closer ties

An Egyptian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon practices aerial refueling from a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron during exercise Bright Star 23 over Egypt, Sept. 10, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Emily Farnsworth)

BEIRUT — Egypt and China launched first military drills between their air forces in Egypt’s airspace dubbed “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” in what analysts said suggested closer ties between the two militaries.

The exercise taking place from mid-April to early May “is the first joint training between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, which is of great significance to promoting pragmatic cooperation and enhancing mutual trust and friendship between the two militaries,” the Chinese ministry of national defense said in a statement.

On his official page on social media, an Egyptian armed forces spokesperson said that “a number of multi-role fighter aircraft of various models” are participating in the exercise and that the drill “aims to unify combat concepts between the two sides through a series of theoretical and practical lectures.”

“The training will also involve joint aerial sorties, planning exercises, and simulated air combat management operations to exchange expertise and enhance the skills of the participating forces,” he added, saying that the exercise “falls within the framework of strengthening military cooperation relations between the Egyptian and Chinese armed forces.”

Egypt is a longstanding US ally and operates a number of US-built aircraft including F-16 fighter aircraft, CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters and is slated to receive C-130 J transport aircraft. While no details about all specific aircraft models participating in the drill were immediately available, pictures on the spokesperson page suggest that at least on China’s side, J-10C fighter jets and Y-20 transport aircraft are part of the drills.

“The Egyptian-Chinese drills mark a pivotal shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics, as Egypt, a US ally, partners with China to showcase military prowess 6,000 kilometers from Beijing,” Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told Breaking Defense. “The exercise highlights China’s J-10C fighters and Y-20 transports, demonstrating long-distance operations and adaptability to regional environments, thus bolstering its global credibility.”

He added that as Egypt hosts the Chinese air force, it is sending a clear message to Washington about being frustrated by what he said were “US restrictions on modernizing its F-16 fleet.” Cairo is “poised to diversify its defense procurement,” he said. (Significant US military aid to Egypt has been frozen and unfrozen in recent years, as successive US administrations weigh human rights concerns against Cairo’s ability to assist in different geopolitical crises.)

While international military drills are generally planned months in advance, David Des Roches, associate professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies, highlighted that the they come at a time when Egypt is concerned about the military aid it gets from the US every year.

“The Trump administration is more skeptical towards foreign aid than previous administrations in the past, and the aid to Egypt is always viewed with skepticism within the United States, even when relations with Egypt are generally favorable,” he said.

Des Roches said Egypt is “sort of viewed with a little bit of suspicion, in part because the Trump administration feels they’re not playing as helpful a role in resolving the Gaza crisis as they might. So I think Egypt is seeking to show Washington they have options as a means of forestalling a bad outcome.”

Soliman noted that the drills also benefit Beijing, as they “serve as a platform for China to promote advanced aircraft, particularly the J-10C, to Egypt, aligning with Beijing’s strategy to expand defense exports in markets frustrated by Western restrictions.”

“Rumors suggest Egypt is eyeing China’s J-10C to modernize its air force, driven by US restrictions on F-16 upgrades. Already operating Chinese K-8 trainers, Cairo is familiar with Chinese systems. The drills allow Egypt to evaluate China’s advanced jets firsthand, paving the way for potential arms deals,” he concluded.

Des Roches agreed that Egypt “is trying to really convince the US, more than the West in general, that it has options, and it will exercise them as a means of trying to secure continued US aid and funding for its existing programs.”